Centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole

ABSTRACT

A centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole having an integral body with a top member and downwardly extending hollow main section. The main section extends down to a hollow cone shaped section to form a point. An elongated cavity is enclosed between the top member, the main section and the cone shaped section. An opening through the top member permits the insertion of a support pole into the cavity of the ground spike. The end of the pole within the cavity rests on the interior surfaces of the cone shaped section. The pole itself is maintained in vertical position by a locking ring with adjustment screws which are tightened around the outer surface of the pole. The size of the opening through the top member and the cone shaped section permit the ground spike to accept and vertically support poles of various diameters. In alternate embodiments, the bottom end of the pole will rest on inverted cone shaped walls which extend into the first cavity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vertically positioned poles are routinely utilized to support elevated birdfeeders, birdhouses, planters, lights, and similar containers and objects. Critical to maintaining such items in place is the manner in which the respective supporting poles are embedded into the ground. A wide variety of systems have been devised which attempt to keep poles rigid and vertical, while still maintaining feeders, birdhouses, planters, etc. atop the poles. Most of these systems have significant disadvantages and limitations. Many with spiked or similarly pointed members are difficult to drive into the ground or set up. Others cannot bear the weight of the objects they are supporting. Most have inadequate means to maintain the pole in a vertical position and no or insufficient means to permit the adjustment of poles to keep them vertical. These pole systems also do not have members which can support poles of varying diameters and still permit adjustments to maintain the poles in vertical orientation, especially when the poles are supporting elevated objects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole which overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of such prior devices.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole which is configured to be readily driven into the ground and, once so positioned, can readily accept a vertically standing pole.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole which can accept poles having a variety of different diameters.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole which has means for adjusting the pole, to maintain it in vertical position, regardless of the diameter of the pole.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole which will bear the weight of bird feeders, birdhouses, planters, lights, or other objects which would be elevated and supported on the pole.

These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole comprises an integral body having a top member and a downwardly extending hollow, main body section. The main section extends down to a hollow, cone shaped section which forms a point. A first cavity is enclosed between the top member and the main section, and a contiguous second cavity is formed within the cone shaped section. An opening through the top member permits the insertion of a support pole into the first cavity. The end of the pole within the cavity rests on the intersection of the interior surface of the walls of the main section and cone shaped section or on an interior surface of the wall of the cone shaped section. The pole itself is maintained in vertical position by a locking ring with adjustment screws which are tightened around the outer surface of the pole. The size of the opening through the top member and the tapered shape of the cone shaped section permit the ground spike to accept and vertically support poles of various diameters. In alternate embodiments, the bottom end of the pole will rest on inverted cone shaped walls which extend into the main body section cavity.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the centering ground spike of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the centering ground spike of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is another elevation view of the centering ground spike of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a third elevation view of the centering ground spike of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the centering ground spike of the present invention with support pole inserted therein.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the centering ground spike of the present invention with an alternatively sized support pole inserted therein.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken from FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken from FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the centering ground spike of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the centering ground spike of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a partial cutaway, isometric view of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Centering ground spike 1 comprises elongated, integral unitary body 2 having top member 4 at its upper end and downwardly extending hollow main section 3 with outer wall 5. The width of main section 3 or, if circular, its diameter, remains substantially the same as it extends vertically downward from top member 4, although in manufacture, this section may be slightly tapered downward. Main section 3 merges into hollow, cone shaped lower section 6 with outer walls 7 which terminate at point 8. Side fins 9, 10, and 11 are located on the external surface of wall 5 of main section 3 and are tapered from top member 4 to cone section 6.

As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, cavity 14 is formed within the hollow space of main section 3, between top member 4 and cone shaped section 6. Cavity 15 extends downward from the lower end of wall 5 to internal tip 17 of cone shaped section 6. Cavities 14 and 15 are contiguous and thus extend as one elongated cavity from top member 4 to internal tip 17. Opening 16, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, extends through top member 4 into cavity 14.

Locking ring 18 is located adjacent to top member 4 and is secured thereto. Locking ring 18 is shown as being circular in shape in order to conform with the shape of common circular diameter poles, e.g. poles 20 and 21. However, it is contemplated that locking ring 18 can be any shape which conforms to the shape of the pole being used, and the invention is not to be considered restricted by the shape of the locking ring or of the pole. Threaded adjustment screws 21, 22, and 23 extend through the threaded openings in locking ring 18. The screws extend over opening 16 of top member 4.

In use, centering ground spike 1 is driven into the ground such that its top member 4 is substantially flush with the ground's surface. Tapered side fins 9, 10, and 11 greatly assist in this process. Adjustment screws 21, 22, and 23 within the openings in locking ring 18 are loosened and retreated back a sufficient distance to allow pole 20 (FIG. 7) to be inserted through locking ring 18, into opening 16, and then dropped into and through cavity 14, until end 30 of pole 20 contacts the approximate intersection of the interior surface of wall 5 of main section 3 and the interior surface of wall 7 of cone shaped section 6. Once pole 20 is so positioned, adjustment screws 21, 22, and 23 are tightened within the openings in locking ring 18 so they each contact the pole. The screws are then alternately tightened both to set and maintain pole 20 in a vertical position and to secure the pole in that position. Thus, guided by locking ring 18, held within centering ground spike 1 by contact with walls 5 and 7, and secured by adjustment screws 21, 22, and 23, pole 20 is maintained and locked in vertical position for use in immoveably supporting elevated items such as bird feeders, birdhouses, planters, or lighting fixtures.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the unique configuration of centering ground spike 1, having tapered cone shaped section 6, not only is designed to maintain and secure embedded poles in vertical position, but it also will accommodate poles having different diameters. Opening 16 through top member 4 is large enough to accept any commercially available sized pole. Any such sized pole is inserted into and through cavity 14 until it either contacts the intersection of the interior surfaces of walls 5 and 7, or it continues into cavity 15 and contacts any point along the interior surface of wall 7. Obviously, poles of smaller diameters will contact wall 7 lower down in cavity 15, towards interior tip 17. Once in place within cavity 14 or cavity 14 and cavity 15, adjustment screws 21, 22, and 23 through the openings in locking ring 18 are tightened around the pole to secure it vertically within body 2 of centering ground spike 1. Again, the degree of tightening of the screws is dependent upon the diameter size of the pole.

FIG. 11 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention in which outer wall 5 of main section 3 terminates at bottom wall 30, which then extends upward from the lower end of the main section into cavity 14 to form inverted cone 32. The lower section in this embodiment comprises pointed spear tip shaped element 34 which is an integral part of or which can be permanently connected to main section 3 and which extends down from the lower surfaces of bottom wall 30 and cone 32 of the main section.

FIG. 12 shows still another embodiment of the invention in which outer wall 5 terminates at bottom wall 40, which extends across main section 3. Separate, pyramid shaped tapered member 42, secured to the upper surface of bottom wall 40, extends upward from the lower end of main section 3 into cavity 14. The lower section in this embodiment comprises spear tip shaped element 44 which also can be an integral part of or permanently connected to main section 3 and which extends down from the lower surfaces of bottom wall 40 of the main section.

Thus, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 depict additional means for accommodating vertical poles of varying diameters, such as pole 24 shown in FIG. 11.

Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

1. A centering ground spike for supporting a vertically standing pole, said ground spike comprising: an elongated unitary body having a given length, said body comprising a horizontal top member, an outer wall extending downward from the top member, the top member extending laterally outward from the outer wall, a lower section of the outer wall being tapered to form a point at the lowermost end of the body, and elongated cavity means located below the top member for receiving and supporting a vertically standing pole, said cavity means being enclosed by the outer wall and extending the full length of the body from the top member to the point, the top member having an opening leading into the cavity means; and operably adjustable means adjacent to the top member of the body for maintaining a pole within the cavity means in a substantially vertical position, substantially perpendicular to the top member, and for securing the pole in that position.
 2. The centering ground spike as in claim 1 wherein the operable means comprises a locking ring with a plurality of adjustable screw members extending therethrough.
 3. The centering ground spike as in claim 1 wherein the cavity means comprises a first cavity formed within a first section of the outer walls extending vertically downward from the top member and a second tapered cavity formed within the lower section of the outer wall, said first and second cavities being contiguous.
 4. The centering ground spike as in claim 1 wherein the operably adjustable means maintains and secures poles having different diameters within the cavity in a substantially vertical position.
 5. The centering ground spike as in claim 1 further comprising tapered fins extending from a section of the outer wall.
 6. A centering ground spike for supporting a vertically standing pole, said ground spike comprising: an elongated unitary body of given length having an upper end and a horizontal top member extending laterally outward from the body, a main section, and a lower section, the main section extending vertically downward from the top member, the lower section being located below the main section and being tapered from the main section to form a point at the lowermost end of the body, and cavity means enclosed within the elongated body for receiving and supporting a vertically standing pole, said cavity means extending the full length of the body, from the top member to the point; and operably adjustable means adjacent to the top member of the body for maintaining a pole within the cavity means in a substantially vertical position substantially perpendicular to the top member and for securing the pole in that position.
 7. The centering ground spike as in claim 6 wherein the operable means comprises a locking ring with a plurality of adjustable screw members extending therethrough.
 8. The centering ground spike as in claim 6 wherein the cavity means comprises a first cavity formed within the main section and a second cavity formed within the lower section, said first and second cavities being contiguous.
 9. The centering ground spike as in claim 6 wherein the cavity means is formed within the main section of the body.
 10. The centering ground spike as in claim 9 further comprising an inverted cone at the lower end of the main section, extending up into the cavity means.
 11. The centering ground spike as in claim 9 further comprising a tapered member at the lower end of the main section, extending up into the cavity means.
 12. The centering ground spike as in claim 6 wherein the lower section comprises a spear tip shaped element extending downward from the main section.
 13. The centering ground spike as in claim 6 further comprising an opening through the top member, said opening leading into the cavity means.
 14. The centering ground spike as in claim 13 wherein the operably adjustable means maintains and secures poles having different diameters within the opening and the cavity in a substantially vertical position.
 15. A centering ground spike for supporting a vertically standing pole, said ground spike comprising: a unitary body of given length having a horizontal top member extending laterally outward from the body, the top member having an opening therethrough, an elongated first section comprising an outer wall extending vertically downward from the top member, a cone shaped lower section with outer walls below the first section tapered to form a point at the lowermost end of the body, a first cavity enclosed between the top member and the first section, and a second cone shaped cavity enclosed within the lower section, said first and second cavities being contiguous, forming one continuous cavity for receiving and supporting a vertically standing pole, the cavity extending the full length of the body from the top member to the point; and operably adjustable means adjacent to the top member of the body for maintaining a pole in the opening and within the cavity in a substantially vertical position substantially perpendicular to the top member and for securing the pole in that position.
 16. (canceled)
 17. The centering ground spike as in claim 15 wherein the operable means comprises a locking ring with a plurality of adjustable screw members extending therethrough.
 18. The centering ground spike as in claim 15 wherein the operable adjustable means maintains and secures poles having different diameters within the opening and the first and second cavities in a substantially vertical position.
 19. The centering ground spike as in claim 15 further comprising tapered fins extending from the first section. 